Aerial/Underground Utility Bucket

This hard-body, tray-bottomed, canvas-lined utility bucket makes life easier for linemen. These 15- by 7- by 9-inch buckets are oval for easy mobility, feature 13 outside and 15 inside canvas pockets for accessibility to tools and other items, and have heavy-duty reinforced grommets for bucket hook attachments to hold up to 75 lbs. Additionally, the interior of the bucket features a solid non-conductive plastic ring, molded-rubber bottom to hold an assortment of hard-to-store tools.
Hi Line Utility Supply | www.hilineco.com

Insulated Tools

The OEL Combination Tool minimizes the amount of tools a worker needs on the job. One set of tools does the job of both metric and standard, plus works on damaged fasteners with a no-slip hold. The double-insulated tool is rated for exposure up to 1000 Vac and dielectrically tested at 10,000 Vac. The insulating material is impact resistant and flame retardant, and its two-color insulation makes the inspection process easier and improves safety. If the yellow underlayer is showing, the tool may no longer be insulated properly and should be considered for replacement and removed from service. The tool's wall-drive profile is designed to provide a greater area of force application, compared with that applied by conventional tools. The sockets are capable of exceeding the tightening torques specified in the DIN standard by 70% to 100%, depending on the socket size. The tool meets or exceeds ASTM F1505-01 and IEC 900 standards for insulated hand tools.
OEL Worldwide | www.oelsales.com

Capstan Hoist

The Hubbell Chance Series 90 portable capstan hoist can perform many jobs previously done by hand or with extensive rigging to use truck power. The 3000-lb hoist is a compact, lightweight one-piece unit with high-torque capabilities. Its portability and versatility make it useful for jobs at rear-lot lines. The design features a multiple planetary drive/back-stop-clutch assembled on the center shaft of a steel gear case with full-length internal teeth. This design handles more rugged jobs, extends service life and reduces maintenance. Because of its light weight and portability, the hoist can get into remote or difficult-to-access sites. For example, the machine can set utility poles, pull wheeled equipment over obstacles, raise transformers, hoist heavy insulators, string and tension conductors and pull cable.
Hubbell Power Systems | www.hubbellpowersystems.com

Vibration-Resistant Cable

The VR2 cable from Southwire features a new dual-conductor cable design, which makes vibration-resistant cable easier to install. Featuring a twist that changes with conductor size, the cable eliminates conductor separation and bagging by holding individual conductors together during installation. The cable also works with the same installation and mounting hardware used by traditional dual-conductor cables. Utilities can reduce the expense of multiple bucket trucks and crews required to bump loops and bags out of installed conductors. This tool is especially useful for installers who work in conditions where wind loading, ice loading and conductor galloping are frequent challenges.
Southwire | www.southwire.com/VR2

Temperature Monitoring

The Distributed Temperature Sensing System from LIOS Technology allows installers to continuously monitor the temperature of a high-voltage cable circuit in real time and use the existing network to its maximum capacity. Operators can predict the behavior of the transmission system upon major changes made to its initial operating conditions through its integrated dynamic cable rating. The system is based on using passive fiber optics as temperature sensors, either integrated directly inside a high-voltage cable or mounted externally on the cable insulation.
LIOS Technology | www.thermal-rating.com

Retractable Truck Grounding Reels

Hastings' spring-retractable truck grounding reels help field crews to efficiently and safely ground vehicles while they're working on or near energized lines. The reel features a bolt-down design for easy removal and transfer to new vehicles. The ground reel's steel construction can withstand heavy field use, and the product is tested to guarantee a maximum fault current rating. The reel is available with factory-installed cables, including 6 ft of ground cable to connect the reel to the truck. A spring rewind drum provides controlled cable payout from vehicle to ground. The reel's four-way cable guide rollers allow for one-man operation and limit excessive wear on the ground cable. The reels are available in two different models with different cable lengths to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements for vehicle grounding.
Hastings | www.hfgp.com

Spray Extender

Wasp nests can pose a hazard to linemen climbing utility poles. To help protect linemen in the field, Your Useful Products has introduced the Spray Close Spray Extender. The product allows linemen to attach a can of any aerosol spray to an extension pole. The tool helps users to reach wasp nests while reducing chemical exposure to the environment. Rather than wasting insect spray, linemen can use the product to hit a wasp nest at a close range.
Your Useful Products
www.sprayclosesprayextender.com

Vertical Rescue System

Spidescape is a completely integrated, self-contained vertical rescue system. Users can pre-rig the system so it is ready and set the variable-speed control knob for hands-free operation. Linemen also can change the speed mid-descent from a complete stop to 6.6 ft/sec. The system uses four independent braking systems for quadruple-redundant safety. The product combines a hands-free “figure 8” with an adjustable disk brake, a manual friction brake and a centrifugal brake. The pocket-sized rescue system weighs under 2 lbs without rope and is made of professional-grade machined aluminum construction. The oyster case features a double hinge for added security and safety. The product is designed to work only with Spidescape ropes, produced by Sterling Ropes.
Spidescape Vertical Descent
Systemswww.spidescape.com

Safety Work Boots

L.P. Royer Inc. launched a new style of conductive linemen safety boots, which meet the following standards: IEC 60895:2002, CSA Z195-02 and ASTM F2413-05. The boots have conductivity between 0 W and 2000 W. The model numbers are #8707 for three-season boots and #7954 for winter boots.
L.P. Royer Inc. |www.lproyer.com

Torque Wrenches

Wright Tool Co.'s torque wrenches help field crews with secure fastening applications. The micro-adjustable, click-type tools are available in ¼-inch, ⅜-inch, ½-inch, ¾-inch and 1-inch drive sizes. The wrenches feature a dual scale in either inch or foot-pounds and Newton meters. Users obtain their click-type name from the clicking action when they reach their desired torque. The wrenches operate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The rugged tool is encased in a form-fitting blow mold plastic or steel box. All wrenches come with a certificate of calibration, which ensures precise measurements.
Wright Tool Co. |
www.wrighttool.com

Chipper

The Apache drum-style 2518 chipper features a 25-inch by 18-inch opening and a 37-inch-diameter pocketed drum to consume the largest trees. A digital reversing autofeed system controls a dual pump hydraulic system. The chipper also uses a long arm pivot, which gives the top feed wheel a smooth vertical lift path, making for an easy opening over the largest butt ends. The Apache incorporates an Air Vortex Control to channel and accelerate discharge air, which gives the machine a high discharge velocity and improved chip throwing power.
JP Carlton Co. |
www.stumpcutters.com

Attention manufacturers: If you have a new product for electric utilities that pertains directly to field professionals, please e-mail a high-resolution product photo and short product description to Amy Fischbach at amyfischbach@gmail.com.